An Interview with Patrizia K. Ingram
MilspoFAN: Tell us a little about yourself, your journey as a military spouse, and where you are today.
Patrizia: I grew up in Europe in a multicultural family to a Polish mother and an Italian father. Much of my youth was influenced by the Germanic culture of Switzerland and Bavaria. I suppose my youth prepared me for a melting pot world and in hindsight, the United States is the best place for this reality to land.I was living in Amberg, Germany back in 2008, finishing school as a linguist, when my now husband transferred to Vilseck with the Army. As he says, “Patrizia was minding her own business, I wasn’t.” After dating, interrupted by a deployment, we married in 2011. In 2016 our beautiful daughter completed our family by her debut only one day after graduating in BUS&ADM from Mount Saint Mary College in NY.We view the moves that come with the honor of serving our country as “long term tourism”. Everywhere we have lived has its own regional history, culture, traditions and values. This is also where I draw inspiration for my paintings-local scenes, historic places, rare flowers or animals are always the first to be painted. We have lived in the Germany, D.C., N.C., N.Y., C.A., and now back to Germany. We have enjoyed the first 11 years of our journey together, and look forward to the adventures to follow.
MilspoFAN: How did you become a painter?
Patrizia: Painting has been a lifelong passion. I first remember painting around age 5. My brother has some pieces of mine from that age on his wall and my mother has a piece of mine from around high school. Sometimes people ask me “How long did it take to you do this painting” and the short answer might be 3 hours or 5 hours, but the real answer is life long. It took whole life to gather the experiences and perfect the techniques to paint this way.
MilspoFAN: Describe for us your creative work and the aesthetic of your painting.
Patrizia: I currently work exclusively in watercolor. I have a few oils out there, but watercolor has been my central medium over the last 3 years. When I paint, I go to a happy place, filled with color and joy, and I think about the person receiving the painting. Especially with commissions, where I know that 9/10 times there will be a small happy tear in their eye because the painting is most likely of a childhood home, or a beloved late dog, or their father’s boat where they spent the summers of their youth.
MilspoFAN: Is there anything else that you would like to share with the readers?Patrizia: Yes, reach out to me. If you are a creative military spouse looking to connect, reach out. If you know somebody who is a military artist, encourage them to reach out. Key people invested in my life, and I want to pay that forward.LINKSpatriziakingramart.compatriziakingramart@gmail.comFacebook/Instagram Patrizia K Ingram ArtBlog: the-everyday-life-of-a-working-artist-mom-and-military-spouse
